By The Press of Asia | March 14, 2026
Lucknow/Meerut: In a major administrative update, the Uttar Pradesh government under Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has released detailed figures of one of its most aggressive and sustained crackdowns on cattle smuggling and illegal slaughterhouse operations.
In a parallel development highlighting the economic struggles of the state, the ongoing global energy crisis has begun severely crippling small-scale industries and the garment sector across Western UP. Here is a detailed report on both developments shaping Uttar Pradesh today.
The Scale of the Anti-Smuggling Crackdown
According to the latest state government data released this week, the enforcement operation has maintained a “zero-tolerance policy” covering almost every district of Uttar Pradesh. Following the stringent implementation of the Uttar Pradesh Prevention of Cow Slaughter (Amendment) Ordinance, 2020, the state police and vigilance teams have systematically dismantled trafficking routes and illegal slaughter networks.
The official figures underscore the sheer magnitude of the operation:
- Massive Arrests: A total of 14,182 cases related to cow slaughter and cattle smuggling have been registered across the state, resulting in the arrest of exactly 35,924 accused individuals.
- Economic Chokehold: Striking a severe financial blow to organized criminal networks, the state attached properties worth a staggering Rs 83.32 crore under Section 14(1) of the Gangster Act. Seized assets include land, commercial vehicles, livestock, and other properties purchased with illegal earnings.
NSA and Gangster Act: UP’s Strong Legal Tools
The data reveals that the state government is officially treating cattle smuggling as a high-level organized crime matter rather than a routine law enforcement issue.
Out of the nearly 36,000 arrested, the UP Police invoked the stringent National Security Act (NSA)โwhich allows for preventive detention without trial for up to 12 monthsโagainst 178 of the most serious offenders. Furthermore, 14,305 cases saw action under the Gangster Act, and 13,793 individuals were booked under the Goonda Act.
Special police teams, backed by district-level task forces and heightened border vigilance, have effectively curbed the operational capacity of these gangs. While the government credits these strict measures for a significant decline in illegal animal slaughter, opposition parties and civil rights groups have periodically raised concerns about the sweeping nature of these laws and the necessity of due process protections.
Western UP Crisis: Garment and Small Industry Hit Hard by Gas Shortage
While the state machinery focuses on law and order, a different kind of crisis is unfolding in the industrial belts of Western Uttar Pradesh. The ongoing disruption in global LPG and natural gas supply chains (exacerbated by the Middle East conflict) is now directly threatening the livelihoods of thousands of daily-wage workers.
The Ground Reality in Bulandshahr and Meerut:
- Job Losses: Reports indicate that around 3,000 workers in Bulandshahr have already lost their livelihoods due to factory shutdowns.
- Operational Paralysis: In Meerut, over 8,000 small factories and MSME workshops are facing severe operational difficulties.
The hardest hit are the small textile and manufacturing units that rely heavily on continuous gas supply for processing, heating, and fabric dyeing. With commercial LPG cylinders becoming either unavailable or exorbitantly priced in the black market, factory owners are being forced to halt production lines.
Local industry associations and MSME unions are urgently appealing to both the state and central governments. They are requesting prioritized industrial LPG supplies and immediate emergency allocations to keep manufacturing alive and prevent a full-blown economic disaster for the sector’s vulnerable workforce.